Auburn basketball eased past Vermont, 94-43 in the season opener.
In dominating fashion, Auburn extended the longest non-conference home winning streak to 55 on Wednesday. Backed by the Jungle, the Tigers controlled the game on both sides, getting stops and failing to be stopped all night.
Contributions were made not only by returning stars but also by transfers and freshmen, giving the Auburn faithful a glimpse of what could be a special season ahead.
With Auburn staring down a matchup with Houston on Saturday, here are the takeaways from Wednesday’s game.
Takeaway #1: Miles Kelly
That could be the entire takeaway: The Georgia Tech transfer caught fire and finished the night with 21 points and seven three-point attempts in 17 minutes off the bench.
“He is an NBA-caliber 3-point shooter,” said head coach Bruce Pearl. “If he can see it, he can make it. I thought he had one from Opelika once, but he was open, so he shot it.”
After missing his first three-point attempts, Kelly made seven consecutive attempts, a welcoming sign for the Auburn faithful. The team shot a measly 35% from three in the 2023-24 season, and Kelly showed not only his coach but the world what he is capable of.
Takeaway #2: Defense picked up right where it left off
After being held to 21 points in the first half, the Catamounts went nearly six whole minutes to record a made field goal and held to 22 points in the second half.
“They’re massive and athletic, and they run you off the line,” Vermont coach John Becker said. “You can’t take advantage of it at the rim because they have two of the best-shot blockers in the country.”
The Auburn defense held Vermont to 25.9 percent shooting (15-58), including 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) on 3-point attempts.
One of the best defenses in the nation from the 2023-24 season looks like it has not missed a beat despite the number of new faces on the roster. It looks like even when it is unable to score 94 on offense, the defense will be able to keep it in the game.
Takeaway #3: The ten deep is as strong as ever
The Tigers’ debut included SEC preseason first and third team members Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara, who returned to Auburn after successful 2023-24 campaigns. But Auburn fans saw five different Tigers make their debuts in Auburn uniforms last night.
JP Pegues, Miles Kelly, Ja’Heim Hudson, Tahaad Pettiford, and Jahki Howard all suited up for the Tigers for the first time, and despite the new faces, the most significant strength from last season was still a key factor.
While some shined, like Kelly and Howard, others will have to wait their turn to showcase a breakout game to win fans over, like Pettiford and Hudson. Where some see concern, others realize the ability this Auburn system has to pick up one another and will be a crucial factor down the stretch.
Next up for Auburn (1-0): at Houston (1-0) on Nov. 9 at 9:30 p.m. EST
Next up for Vermont (1-1): at Merrimack (0-0) on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. EST